Week 10 [12.12 - 18.12]
Just you and the whole world
Just you and the whole world
When it comes to traveling to another city or country, the last thing that comes to mind - to travel solo. Vacationing in a group of your friends seems to give much more fun. But sometimes the circumstances don't allow you to find the company for a trip. In this case you shouldn't stay at home. You can try to travel alone. This is a great experience that has its advantages and disadvantages. So,
Pros:
1. You don't need to compromise.
When traveling alone, you don't have to be torn between someone's desires and wishes for travel. Go to the best show? Visit an old castle? Sit up all night in the pub? Choose what you wish and do it! Wake up and go for a walk when you want, go only to those places that are interesting for you, not adjusting to other people.
2. You don't need to wait for anyone.
Everyone has their own pace of life, one can get up in the morning and freshen up for 10 minutes, while others would require a couple of hours. Some of your friends like to come to the airport early, and for someone it is a pity to waste time when they could have time to visit a couple of museums. Travel alone with yourself and you won't be nervous or in a hurry. You will be able to live in your own rhythm.
3. You can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of what is happening.
When you travel in group, you do not see half of interesting things, because part of your attention is absorbed in conversation. While being alone you are completely immersed in a new place, you hear and see everything. Because of this, there would be much more vivid memories of the places you have visited.
4. You can sort out your thoughts.
Sometimes the constant bustle makes you so tired that you just need to be alone to understand yourself. Weekly meditation, focusing on the environment, unfamiliar terrain and beautiful views will refresh the perception and "reset" the brain.
5. It will be easier to meet new people.
Staying in a hotel or hostel, sitting in a cafe with a cup of tea or walking in the park - you are sure to be surrounded by many people. And since you are traveling alone, you will be more open to them.
6. Traveling alone allows you to live spontaneously.
The changes in bus schedules, canceled flights, lost hotel reservations - and your plan is not so strict. The most vivid impressions are the moments when something goes wrong. So don't worry - by the time you return you'll be thankful for the canceled flight and missing booking.
7. You will become bolder and more independent.
Traveling with your friends gives the possibility to count on each other. When traveling alone, only you are responsible for everything. You will learn how to plan and rule the consequences of your actions: if you booked a hotel or a ticket for the wrong date or lost something - blame only yourself. And look for the solution on your own.
8. You will find out what you can.
During a solo trip you manifest the qualities, which are deeply hidden in you. You will gain invaluable experience, meet new people and believe in yourself. And when you get back and realize what a great way you have passed, you will never be the same again.
Cons:
1. Less saving.
Traveling alone is always a little more expensive than with a group. Firstly, a single room is always more expensive than "half" of a double. Secondly, there are related expenses - such as payment for a taxi to the airport, a tip (if you stay together, you can share the cost) and more.
2. Security questions.
An unpleasant situation can happen to anyone - no one is safe. For example, your bag was stolen, you would have to deal with all the difficulties by yourself In addition, if you are traveling alone, you have no one to leave your stuff with, and you have to carry it around all the time.
An unpleasant situation can happen to anyone - no one is safe. For example, your bag was stolen, you would have to deal with all the difficulties by yourself In addition, if you are traveling alone, you have no one to leave your stuff with, and you have to carry it around all the time.
3. More stuff in the luggage.
Traveling with someone allows you to take with you one-on-two hair dryer, shampoo, shower gel, hair spray and things like that. This will save space in your suitcase. If you are traveling alone, you have to rely on yourself.
Traveling with someone allows you to take with you one-on-two hair dryer, shampoo, shower gel, hair spray and things like that. This will save space in your suitcase. If you are traveling alone, you have to rely on yourself.
4. It's more fun when you are together.
Whether you are sitting on a bus, or waiting for your plane to land at the airport. You can make plans together or remember the funny stories of your life. If you are traveling alone, you will have to entertain yourself, or you may have to "stick" to people, finding among them a pleasant companion.
Whether you are sitting on a bus, or waiting for your plane to land at the airport. You can make plans together or remember the funny stories of your life. If you are traveling alone, you will have to entertain yourself, or you may have to "stick" to people, finding among them a pleasant companion.
Source!!
5. One head is good, but two heads are better.
When you and your friend combine the foreign language skills you could communicate in the country you travel to much easier. It concerns not only languages. Perhaps your friend is more knowledgeable in technical devices - for example, he or she knows how to adjust the hot water in the shower or how to set the air conditioner in the room. Or you could know better, for example, how to bargain.
They say that one man is no man. That traveling solo is dangerous or boring. But maybe you should open your heart and mind and try to test yourself?
1. Have you ever tried to travel alone?
2. If yes, please tell us if you enjoyed this experience?
3. If no - do you want to try one day?
4. Do you agree or disagree with the pros and cons of traveling without friends and family?
I would be glad to discuss it and to hear your stories:)
Here are the lists of the places, which are recommended for the solo-travelers:
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-places-to-travel-alone-2015-8?IR=T/#new-zealand-offers-plenty-of-adventure-for-the-single-traveler-theres-everything-from-bungee-jumping-and-boat-cruises-to-bike-rides-and-hikes-to-take-up-your-travel-time-chances-are-you-wont-even-think-about-the-fact-that-youre-solo-1
http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/solo-travel/best-european-cities-solo-travelers#intro
http://www.escapehere.com/inspiration/the-10-safest-and-coolest-cities-for-women-to-travel-alone/
Comments
I wouldn't like to try to travel alone anywhere, because as I said it scares me, maybe because I'm not very responsible person and I need someone to take care of me ;)
Personally I agree with all of mentioned pros and cons. Nice article
I was also on an organized trip to China. During free time in Shanghai I visited places in the city, which were not in the program. In China, it is extremely cheap, and Shanghai has almost 600 km of metro lines. It gave an incredible sense of freedom.
But generally, I think that half the pleasure comes from sharing the experience with others. Because of that I do not like to travel alone. I regret that my friends mostly do not have time or money to explore the world with me. Despite the age of 25 I still love to travel with my parents. I can see and do things I wouldn't be able to normally and I get along with them very well.
So as you see, I don't agree with all pros and cons you mentioned. Mainly it's not an advantage that you have an opourtunity to meet new people. In my opinion it should be mentioned in disadvantages.
And I find it quite funny: my closest friends are not the best company to travel with, but there is a group of people, whom I'm not communicating a lot with and we always have a great time together in a voyage:)
However as you said it can really help develop your personality. Becoming more independent and spontaneous is almost guaranteed while travelling alone. I think that one day in the future I might travel alone to just try myself in different environment.
I don't agree with third point on list of advantages, because I believe that if you want to see something you can. If your group makes it impossible to admire what you want that means, that you took wrong people.
As for me the most important are last two points on disadvantages list. It's fun to travel, but I believe that this is better when you can share this experince with someone else. It doesn't have to be big group, but even one person can make travel even better.
I try to choose people with the same pace of life as me, fortunately I'm privilaged enough to have at least one such person, however I actually know the problem when traveling with bigger group and some friends want to be earlier at the airport and for me the word "earlier" does not exist. So that's when I just get separated from the group to could make some last minute sightseeing and live on an adrenaline that I could miss my plane.
I can't agree that traveling alone will make me more open to know new people, I prefare to look for a new buddies abroad in a group of well known people - the more people the more fun. I don't allow anybody to confine myself so I don't feel like loosing my spirit and independence on non-solo trips.
I don't remember if I've ever traveled alone, probably not. I don't dream about such an experience.
On the other hand, I like to associate with people who I know well. Then, I'm fully myself. Of course, I don't like to pretend and I don't do it, but I'm careful with new people (despite being really open). There is some kind of barrier, which has to be destroyed by e.g. small talk etc.
That's why I think I could try to travel alone. It would be really interesting experience, which (after reading this post) I'm curious, but for a long period of time it's not for me. I like to be "safe" with my friends.
I love to hitchhike and I have a tradition to travel with strangers who have never hitchhiked before. Mostly, people who were afraid of hitchhiking - they start loving and enjoying it. It can be difficult to do it alone. Psychologically difficult, because it’s quite a hard feeling when you are in a middle of nowhere, it’s raining and you’re trying to catch a car.
So I think your decision on how to travel should be affected by the level of comfort you want to have during a trip. And of course the smaller the comfort - the more lessons the whole experience brings you.
Many people are afraid of travelling alone. They think it's dangerous or boring. I don't think so if you're going to a peaceful country.
Of course there are places where it is much safer to travel with a companion, however if you are an outgoing person it will be very easy to meet new people along the way.
As per the costs, I guess that it depends what kind of travelling you are doing. If you are staying in a hostel, travelling alone will not affect your wallet so much, as all the beds have the same price.
Myself, I haven’t travel alone so much, only a few short trips but I enjoyed it, so I am looking forward to having a longer excursion just on my own.
I would always prefer to travel with my close ones so traveling have a meaning to me, so I share it with the others, not keep it to myself all alone.
But you are absolutely right - sharing emotions in the trip is precious.
When travelling with friends I hate it when you need to make compromises and wait for somebody.
Of course travelling alone would be a lot harder as you don't have anybody you can count on if something happens.
First of all I need a sense of security. I like traveling with a single companion, who I genuinely like spending time with. Traveling with many friends you need to adjust yourself to is not that much fun either.
I think I could travel somewhere alone, where I would organize my time on my own, but I'd prefer it being somewhere I already been before. The only thing I can imagine worse than traveling alone would be traveling with someone you don't don't get along with.
1. You don't need to compromise.
Yes, you really don't need to, but by doing that you can learn to be more social and achieve more in the long term.
2. You don't need to wait for anyone.
Don't have problems like this - just travel with a motto - we do things together and sometimes all ideas will get better. I cannot count how many things I would not saw or great stories from traveling without my friends around (sometimes freshly met, but after few of those trips they all are in my life).
3. You can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of what is happening.
I have completely different view of that. The atmosphere is created by people the views will be the same.
4. You can sort out your thoughts.
In this point yes sometimes it's the only way. I have a house about 200 km from Warsaw that is completely in the woods, the only way to get there by car is usually in the summer. After being there for 2-3 days (no internet, phone, Wifi and just moose passing around at night get's you reset. But I think you wouldn't achieve that by traveling because you will still have contact with people.
5. It will be easier to meet new people.
Nope - As I see through the years most people I've met was with a friend and I had a contact with them because they went somewhere out together. Sorry going to a club, drink, events alone won't get you a lot of friends because they first thought talking with you, will be - why is he/she alone here ?
6. Traveling alone allows you to live spontaneously.
I could show you what 20 people that spent 10 days together at Zakhyntos can spontaneously do when their flight is delayed for about 7 hours. First party at the airport I had :)
7. You will become bolder and more independent.
Try to be bolder when you're organizing a parachute jump 1000km from home for 20 people. Or making a yacht reservation including all needs far away from home - I think that makes you very independent because you have a lot of options and at the end very satisfied when you're managing it good.
8. You will find out what you can.
To do many crazy things you need at least one person - even when jumping to the water 8 meters up from inflatable banana - someone has to jump you up at the start. Wild hunt also needs a companion.
And one thing - for me currently there is no such thing as travelling really alone. There will always be someone with you. Or otherwise you're going through Sahara :)
I like to travel alone but to for example fly a plane or travel by train not the whole trip.
Yes! Hopefully someday I’ll. I want to go to some far place like island or somewhere to the north to be able to walk there in a harsh environment but with the beautiful skies and clear almost virgin forest and mountains. Yes, with almost all of them.